Franklin Police Department - Franklin Police Department

Arrests Made In August Death of Infant

ARRESTS MADE IN AUGUST DEATH OF INFANT

The parents of deceased, Jackson Robert Lee Ward were arrested on Monday, October 21st, after a joint investigation was conducted by the Franklin Police Department and Georgia Bureau of Investigations, into the death of the 41 day old child.

During the afternoon hours on August 6th, the Heard County Emergency Services and Franklin Police Department were dispatched to a residence located in Heard Mobile Home Park, regarding an infant that wasn’t breathing. Upon their arrival, Jackson Robert Lee Ward was unconscious and immediately rushed to West Georgia Medical Center, while emergency medical personnel attempted to resuscitate the infant. Procedures continued after arriving at the hospital, but sadly they were unsuccessful.

The Franklin Police Department and Heard County Coroner’s Office were notified and responded to the West Georgia Medical Center, where they began an investigation into the cause of death. The deceased infant was transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy to be performed.

Due to the many unanswered questions surrounding the infant’s death, the Franklin Police Department requested the assistance of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; a joint investigation ensued. A preliminary finding by the Medical Examiner’s Office determining an unnatural cause of death, to include blunt force trauma, together with much fact finding and evidence gathering resulted in today’s arrests.

On Wednesday, October 16th, a Superior Court Judge signed arrest warrants for Jacob Mitchell Ward and Amanda Lynn Ward of 214 Elcona Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia. Both were charged with (1) count of Murder and (1) count of Cruelty to Children. They are currently being held at the Heard County Jail.